Chapter 1519: Feast Invitation

Seeing Kui Niu's fighting spirit soaring, Ye Chen didn't say anything, just smiled faintly.

He knew Kui Niu's strength inside out—it was on par with Di Jiu Xian at the same level—but if facing Xi Zun, Kui Niu would likely lose. Ye Chen had already experienced Xi Zun's power firsthand.

As they spoke, a trickle of fresh blood overflowed from the corner of Ye Chen's mouth, black and laced with lightning.

Kui Niu frowned again, his eyes narrowing as divine light swirled around them, fixing on Ye Chen's primordial spirit. "Old Seven, what kind of cultivation technique are you practicing? This backlash is incredibly domineering."

"It's an old issue, nothing serious." Ye Chen smiled reassuringly, wiping the blood from his lips, and had no intention of explaining the reason to Kui Niu. Even the Sword God was helpless about it, let alone Kui Niu.

"You're becoming more and more unfathomable." Kui Niu said deeply, his eyes flickering with profound meaning.

Ye Chen just smiled and focused on drinking. The backlash from Zhou Tian's evolution was indeed overwhelmingly powerful.

To this day, he hadn't found any force that could resist its erosion. Calculating the heavens and the earth ultimately meant outsmarting fate, and even the world's unparalleled deductions came at a terrible cost.

The night grew deeper, and the figures in the small tavern gradually thinned out. A few die-hard drunks still hid in the corners, nursing their drinks with bleary eyes and belching one after another.

Ye Chen, who had been about to leave, overheard some words from outside and sat back down.

Soon, three figures entered the tavern one after another: a scruffy old man, a bald burly man, and a fairly normal one—a handsome young boy.

Whether the handsome boy, the bald burly man, or the scruffy old man, they were all genuine old-timers with Quasi-Saint level cultivation, each around a thousand years old.

The three seemed to have come from afar, covered in dust from travel. No sooner had they sat down than the bald burly man started venting.

"I saw it with my own eyes—the Demon Clan Quasi-Saint King was torn apart alive."

"I have no idea where that Thunder War Body came from." The handsome boy sighed. "These days, the Demon Clan has gone all out to catch him, with a bounty on the wanted posters big enough to build an army of cultivators. So many people are after him, yet no one's caught him."

"Xuan Huang is truly a place of emerging talents." The scruffy old man stroked his chin, clicking his tongue. "First the Ancient Holy Body, now the Thunder War Body—they're all incredibly fierce!"

"The War Body still needs a bit more tempering." The bald burly man downed a bowl of strong liquor in one go.

"When it comes to causing trouble, I bow to the Ancient Holy Body—that's the real tough one. From the Xuan Huang Star Sea to the Yao Chi Grand Meeting, from the Yao Chi Grand Meeting to the Eastern Wasteland Ancient City, from the Eastern Wasteland Ancient City to the Ancient Ruins, and from the Ancient Ruins to the Xuan Huang Southern Domain, he's stirred up excitement everywhere he goes. The prodigies and heroes who've died at his hands aren't counted individually—they're counted in groups."

"He's shaken up three of Xuan Huang's five domains—Eastern Wasteland, Central State, and Southern Domain. Absolutely explosive."

"Too bad, no matter how strong the Holy Body is, it can't escape the pursuit of all clans." The handsome boy shook his head helplessly. "Such a world-shaking prodigy, buried in the Underworld—it's hard not to feel regret."

"I'd say the Thunder War Body will follow in the Holy Body's footsteps. Without a powerful force backing him, how can one person stand against the great clans and sects? The Holy Body is a bloody example of that."

"Who can argue with that? We..." The scruffy old man's words cut off abruptly, because a ghostly figure suddenly appeared at their table—it was Ye Chen, clad in a black robe and wearing a Ghost Underworld mask, very mysterious.

"Who are you!" The handsome boy and the bald burly man both turned to look, sizing up Ye Chen. "We were in the middle of a good chat, and you pop out of nowhere, scaring us half to death."

"I'll treat you three to this round of drinks." Ye Chen smiled slightly, being quite generous.

"How could we impose?" The three instantly beamed with joy at the offer of free drinks.

"I overheard you three discussing the Thunder War Body, and I'm quite fond of gossip myself." Ye Chen sat down, smiling at them. "Do you know where the War Body is now? I'd like to take a look."

"The last sighting was outside Buddha Crossing City—that's where he killed a Demon Clan Quasi-Saint King." The bald burly man said, being quite forthcoming since he'd accepted the favor.

"Outside Buddha Crossing City." Ye Chen murmured softly, a map forming in his mind with Buddha Crossing City marked on it—a pure land of Buddhism, still over eight million li away.

"The Demon Clan is truly furious this time." The handsome boy took a swig of wine and continued. "They've issued wanted orders, rallying forces from all sides to hunt the War Body. It's a massive operation."

"The younger generation's prodigies, like the Phoenix God Child, God Clan God Child, Demon Clan God Child, Extinct God Body, and Immortal Clan God Child, have all joined in. They want to use the War Body as their training target and are competing to hunt him down. Each one boasts about stepping on his blood and bones to vie for the Emperor's Path."

"That War Body is really something—despite the Demon Clan and all these God Children mounting such a huge effort, they still haven't caught him." The scruffy old man added, sighing endlessly.

"He's as elusive as the Holy Body." The bald burly man drank until his face was flushed and his neck thick.

The three chatted away enthusiastically, one remark after another, while Ye Chen, as the listener, sat quietly.

Clearly, his brows were furrowed—the more heated their discussion, the deeper his frown. Xiao Chen's situation was dire, but the problem was, he had no idea where Xiao Chen was.

A gentle breeze blew by, and Ye Chen stood up, leaving as quickly as he had come.

At this, the bald burly man and the other two shouted, "Hey, you! Pay for the drinks!"

Ye Chen had already stepped out of the tavern and didn't respond, only tossing back a storage bag that flew into the small establishment.

Now, the three relaxed and rolled up their sleeves to drink heartily, chatting merrily.

They had no idea what expressions they'd make if they knew the one treating them was the Holy Body himself.

On the street, Ye Chen and Kui Niu walked side by side, both with less than pleasant looks on their faces.

Though it was late at night, the street was still bustling with people, many gathered at roadside stalls, their discussions rising and falling, mostly about the Thunder War Body, with occasional mentions of the Ancient Holy Body.

"Whoever messes with our Old Eight, we fight back—got to do it." Kui Niu's fiery temper flared up again, cursing all the way. As Ye Chen's brother, he was naturally Xiao Chen's brother too.

"I don't know where he is—it's tricky." Ye Chen shook his head helplessly. If he went to Buddha Crossing City now, Xiao Chen would surely have left already. He needed more accurate information before moving.

"Let's head to Spirit Mountain first—maybe he's gone there to join the excitement." Kui Niu stroked his chin.

"We're on the same page—let's go to Spirit Mountain." Ye Chen smiled and headed straight for the teleportation array.

"Now that we're here, let's check out the Forbidden Zone Wangchuan." Kui Niu stepped forward and grabbed him. "The lecture at Spirit Mountain is in three days, so we have time. Trust me, it's worth it."

Ye Chen had no choice but to go along, letting Kui Niu pull him as they flew out of Wangchuan Ancient City toward the Western Desert Forbidden Zone.

The night sky was profound, with shattered stars like dust, and the Western Desert earth serene and peaceful, accompanied by quiet stillness.

That night, Wangchuan was tranquil, with mysterious forces weaving together to form various ancient visions—one could see phoenixes dancing in the nine heavens or divine dragons coiling around, quite extraordinary.

Starlight and moonlight cascaded down, draping it in a brilliant veil and adding an inexplicable mystery. Yet, the moonlight couldn't hide its ancient aura, nor could the starlight cover its vicissitudes.

Outside Wangchuan, many people stood or lingered at a distance, gazing at this sea.

These people weren't locals from the Western Desert but outsiders who had come to hear Sakyamuni Venerable's lecture at Spirit Mountain. Since they were in the Western Desert, how could they not take a look at the Wangchuan Forbidden Zone? It was pure curiosity.

"The Forbidden Zone Wangchuan lives up to its reputation." Someone sighed, but they didn't dare approach carelessly, only watching from afar. The dreamlike sea felt somewhat unreal, full of mystery.

"It's weaving so many splendid scenes—Wangchuan doesn't seem as terrifying as the legends say."

"You're talking lightly—why don't you go in and see for yourself?" Someone sneered. "To stand alongside the Eastern Wasteland's Refining Hell, Southern Domain's Underworld, Northern Peak's Yellow Springs, and Central State's Heavenly Void, its notorious reputation is unquestionable."

"The Ancient Holy Body from a while back was buried in the Underworld—that's solid proof."

That remark made everyone present shudder. They had all heard about the Southern Domain events—not only the Holy Body, but also a Great Saint and two Saint Kings had met gruesome ends.

Because of that horror, it had deterred the nine Quasi-Emperors like the Golden Crow and Kunpeng. Even they were wary, let alone those with lower cultivation—venturing into a forbidden zone would have dire consequences.

People had every reason to believe that Wangchuan, on par with the Underworld, was just as terrifying.

More figures arrived from the horizon, stopping far away without daring to get closer, merely observing from a distance.

No matter how lively it was outside, Wangchuan remained silent, its surface calm without a ripple. Only upon closer inspection could one see figures deep within, like a dream or illusion.

It was a woman, sitting there quietly, hugging her knees. The breeze blew thoughtlessly, stirring her hair and brushing strands against her cheeks.

This woman was Ji Ningshuang, the Eastern Divine of Yao Chi. Her expression was sorrowfully beautiful, evoking pity. Her peerless face was so stunning it took one's breath away, making hearts falter.

Since arriving at Wangchuan, she had sat there like an ice sculpture, motionless.

Who would have thought that the magnificent Eastern Divine would become like this over a single sentence, as if her spirit had vanished? Her eyes, like clear water, were dull and lifeless, as silent as the waters of Wangchuan.

At some point, she turned her head, quietly looking toward the outside of Wangchuan, as if she could see through the distance to those observing. She could see them, but they couldn't see her.

She smiled sadly, feeling the wind grow even colder, her delicate body involuntarily curling up.

Just as she was about to look away, two more figures descended outside Wangchuan, standing in the void.

In an instant, her dull eyes burst with immortal light, and tears slid down, crystal clear.

It was Ye Chen—she could see him clearly, even with his black robe and Ghost Underworld mask. In her hazy vision, everything else was illusion; she remembered his eyes.